New South Wales: The Bureau of Health Information (BHI) released two reports with new data on patient deaths within 30 days of hospitalization, and levels of readmission to hospital for up to nine clinical conditions in NSW.
The Exploring clinical variation in mortality report covers heart attack, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hip fracture surgery. Together, these conditions comprise 10% of all hospitalizations and 30% of all deaths in NSW public hospitals. The report analyses mortality rates and assesses if they are lower, higher or as expected given the age and health conditions of patients in 75 hospitals.
The Exploring clinical variation in readmission show rates of unplanned readmission of patients to NSW public hospitals, covering eight conditions that account for 13% of all hospital readmissions in NSW. These conditions include heart attack, ischaemic stroke, congestive heart failure, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hip fracture surgery, total hip replacement and total knee replacement. The report found that in 2012–15 across 79 hospitals and eight conditions, the number with higher than expected readmissions ranged from one hospital each for total hip and total knee replacement to seven hospitals for congestive heart failure. The report provides insight into the reasons why patients are readmitted to a hospital following treatment, and the relationship between length of stay in hospital and readmission.
Read more:
- The reports and hospital profiles for the 79 public hospitals in NSW are available at bhi.nsw.gov.au
- Related press release: http://www.bhi.nsw.gov.au/media/2017/two-new-reports-shed-light-on-hospital-mortality-and-readmissions-in-nsw